Donegal PRO hits out at ‘heavy and largely unfair criticism’

The Donegal GAA Public Relations Officer, John McEniff, has criticised ‘heavy and largely unfair criticism’ of the Donegal senior football team in recent weeks.

McEniff was speaking in relation to some commentary and coverage of the Allianz Football League draw against Mayo.

At Markievicz Park, Donegal led by five points only to end up having their advantage eroded and left to settle for a 0-11 apiece stalemate.

In a monthly report for January, McEniff pointed to two columns in national newspaper to illustrate his point.

“The County team has three points out of four after two games in the Allianz National League yet have still been coming

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in for heavy and largely unfair criticism in sections of the national media, particularly after the Mayo game,” McEniff wrote.

“Despite Donegal dominating most of the exchanges one national commentator suggested Mayo and Donegal were poles apart, Mayo having the much brighter prospects, while another headlined the squad as a ‘Fading Force’.”

Donegal defeated Kildare in their next outing and return to action this weekend when they go to Killarney to take on Kerry.

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Against Kildare, Donegal - despite losing captain Michael Murphy to an injury in the first half - were 2-11 to 1-9 winners.

McEniff felt that the negative tones emanating from the Mayo fixture meant that Donegal’s support perhaps wasn’t as vociferous as might’ve been expected at Sean MacCumhaill Park.

He wrote: “Some of this downbeat thinking may have transferred to the team’s support base.

“Despite Donegal’s fine win and our Ballybofey venue, the Kildare support seemed to louder than the home crowd last Sunday.

“The next home match is the derby game with Tyrone on the evening of Saturday, February 26th and is important to get a good home crowd encouraging our players.”